Casing for a winding apparatus

ABSTRACT

The winding apparatus includes a reverse thread roller rotatably mounted in a casing. A thread guide element is mounted for back and forth movement by means of the reverse thread roller. The casing includes a trough-shaped housing having an opening extending along one side thereof and detachably connected support means having wall portions or pieces defining a winding zone therebetween. The support means includes means for reinforcing the housing along the edges of the opening.

United States Patent Hermanns Sept. 30, 1975 CASING FOR A WINDING APPARATUS 3.401.894 9/1968 Campbell, Jr 242/43 [75] Inventor: Peter Hermanns, Stommcln,

l C0 Ogne' Germany Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Assigneei FMN Schllstel & Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Neil F. Markva Hurth-Effercn, Germany [22] Filed: Nov. 7, 1973 Foreign Application Priority Data The winding apparatus includes a reverse thread roller Nov. 11, 1972 Germany 2255258 t ly mounted in a asing. A thread guide element is mounted for back and forth movement by means of [52] U5. Cl. 242/43; 74/57; 242/1583; h reverse hr d roller. The casing includes 21 242/1585 trough-shaped housing having an opening extending [51] Int. Cl B65h 54/30 long ne i e thereof and detachably connected sup- [58] Field of Search...... 242/43, 43.1, 18 R, 35.5 R, port means having wall portions or pieces defining a 242/l58.3, 158.5; 74/57 Winding zone therebetween. The support means includes means for reinforcing the housing along the [56] References Cited edges of the opening.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,248,064 4/1966 Rollings 1. 242/43 16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures US. Patent Seapt. 30,1975 Sheet 1 of 4 3,908,919

FIG. 1.

FIG. 5

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,908,919

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet4 0f4 3,908,919

h-I'l l I l CASING FOR A WINDING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a winding and changeover apparatus for producing wound thread rolls, spools and the like in which a thread guide element is moved back and forth acrossthe thread spool by meansof a reverse thread roller mounted in a casing.

It is conventional to provide a plurality of winding units in an end to end relationship with respect to each other for winding threads coming from texturizing' machines and the like. The drive mechanisms for the winding units are combined into a block and centrally driven and controlled. Control rods extend over the entire row of winding machines and transmission members that extend at the side of the winding machines are used in conjunction with changeover and shifting apparatus to control the back and forth movement of the thread guide.

The prior art devices are so constructed that each of them represents a self-contained unit. However, only the parts provided with a common drive such as the reverse thread rollers, are interconnected. The casing containing the reverse thread rollers and associated operational parts represents a self-contained unit. This prior art casing is usually a cast component that is adapted to the width dimensions of the winding unit. The texturizing machines or the like from which thread is being supplied are not always the same width as the winding units. A

It is rare that an extensive row of machines such as texturizing machines or the like are set up. More commonly, only a few machines are set up to begin with. Gradually, further machines are added in accordance with the growth of production. The end products also change so that adjacent machine units are differently distributed with regard to width dimensions. It is often necessary to regroup the available machines into new combinations so that machines with the most varied widths are placed next to each other.

In this latter case, difficulties arise when attempting to couple the machines to a common drive. In addition, various individual units such as the winding and changeover apparatus must be interchanged. That is, it is necessary to adapt the winding and changeover apparatus to the increased requirements resulting from increased operational speeds and the like. Among other things, this means that casings having different lengths must be made for the winding and changeover apparatus. Such casings cannot be interchanged as the machines are a different distribution of width. This particular manner of operation is extremely expensive because the winding and changeover apparatus requirements are frequently changed and consequently various parts, especially the casing portions, must be custom manufactured for each application.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION The primary object of this invention is to provide a winding apparatus in which the thread guide is driven by reverse thread roller mounted in a casing that is of simple construction and easily adapted to various field lengths of the machine with which it is being used.

Another object of the invention is to design the casing for a reverse thread roller so that it may be adapted to any type of distributionofjuxtaposed machines from ing having an indeterminate length. which may be subdivided intoany desiredpredetermined subdivisions or manufacturing lengths provided for accommodating reverse thread rollers and spools having various sized lengths. I

A further object of this invention is to provide a casing wherein support means are detachably connected.

to a housing so that the length of the casing for accommodating a winding mechanism, may be adjusted at any time during the use of the winding and changeover de-. vice.

SUMMARY OF'THE INVENTION The invention as described herein is directed to ,an apparatus for winding thread ontoa spool wherein a reverse thread roller is rotatably mounted in a casing.

The casing includes a trough-shaped housing having an opening extending along one side thereof and support means detachably connected to the housing. The support means include wall portions or pieces defining a winding 'zone therebetween. The detachably mounted support means may also include supporting elements disposed within the housing intermediate the wall portions such as bearing blocks and intermediate bearing support portions. The support means include means for reinforcing the housing along the edges of the opening.

The trough-shaped housing may be made to extend over any desired length. That is, it can be selectedly made to extend over one machine or several juxtaposed machines having their drive combined into one block.

In a specific embodiment of the apparatus, the housing maybe made of an accurately dimensioned extruded lead alloy, aluminum or the like. The troughshaped housing is advantageously continuous from one winding unit to another. Varying lengths of reverse thread'rollers may be provided in the casing and accommodated by insertion and attachment of the detachably mounted support'means which may include end wall pieces, bearing blocks, intermediate support elements and the like.

Another feature of the invention is directed to the specific edge configuration extending along the opening of the housing. That is, the trough-shaped housing the contour, of the flange strip. The support means also includes fastening means for pulling the abutment surface tightly against the seating surface to cause the gripping section to apply a force on the flange strip in a direction toward the seating surface. Thus, the generally trough-shaped housingis significantly reinforced once the support means are rigidly fastened in place along the housing Another feature of the. invention is the use of -two support surfaces disposed in an angle with respect to each other along the outside surface of the troughshaped housing. This structural configuration provides a rapid and simple mechanism for connecting the casing to holders secured to the machine frame. The opening that extends along one side of the housing may be covered by cover portions which are appropriately connected to the housing by snap closures.

A further feature of the invention is that the reverse thread rollers may be designed as hollow cylinders and have different lengths depending upon the width of the machine from which thread is being supplied. The hollow cylinder reverse thread rollers may be pushed onto a continuous shaft and securely fastened thereon for rotation by a friction roller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a winding and changeover apparatus made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic prespective view of a casing for an apparatus made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 3a is a sectional view along line IIIaIIIa of FIG. 2 and showing a thread guide mechanism partially in section;

FIG. 3b is a sectional view taken along line IIIbIIIb of FIG. 2;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the movable carrier for the thread guide of an apparatus made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of an intermediate support element used in the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the support element shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view showing the arrangement of several reverse thread rollers in a common housing wherein there are differing operating lengths of the winding zone.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS More specifically, the winding and changeover apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is useful for winding textile threads and the like onto a yarn spool or spool core 2 which is driven by a friction roller 3. The spool of yarn or textile thread is built up on the spool core 2. The friction roller 3 is mounted on a driven shaft 4. When the winding unit is to be used on a texturizing machine, the drive for shaft 4 of the friction roller 3 may be derived from main drive device of the texturizing machine. The spool core 2 is rotatably mounted at one end of two arms 5 which are pivotally mounted at the axis 6 on the block 7. The relationships between and among the spool core 2, friction roller 3, arms 5 and block 7 is well known in the prior art and does not form a part of this invention.

An oscillating feed guide or thread guide element 9 is supported in the casing 8 and is driven back and forth across the length of the spool core 2. The guide element 9 guides a thread 10 after it passes over a freely turning roller 11 onto the spool core 2. A reverse thread roller 12 drives the thread guide 9 in its oscillating motion. The reverse thread roller 12 is driven by friction roller 3 via wheels 13 and 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the casing 8 of the changeover device includes a trough-shaped housing that is open at one side. In this embodiment, the housing is a drawn or extruded profile of correspondingly accurate dimensions made of a metal such as aluminum. The troughshaped housing is delivered in so-called manufacturing lengths which can come to several meters.

The casing 8 includes support means having bearing portions which support the functional components to be encased therein. These bearing portions support the reverse thread roller 12 and the thread guide mechanism including the guide rod 22. The support means include wall portions or pieces 15, intermediate bearing portion or supportingelement l6 and bearing block 17 which can be inserted at any point along the length of the trough-shaped housing of the casing 8. As is evident from the drawings, the support elements 15, 16 and 17 are movably disposed between the longitudinal sides of the casing 8.

The support means include means for reinforcing the housing along the edges of the opening. As shown, the reinforcing means have an outer bearing surface configuration corresponding to the contoured inner surface of the trough-shaped housing. A longitudinally extending prismatic guide 18 or seating surface is disposed along one longitudinal side of the casing housing as shown. A longitudinally extending flange strip 19 is disposed on the other leg or opposite side of the troughshaped housing. The supporting elements l5, l6 and 17 are designed so that they have on one side thereof correspondingly formed abutting surfaces 15a, 16a and 17a, respectively. The bearing portions 15 and 16 include gripping sections 15b and 16b, respectively, designed as bridge portions. The gripping sections 15b and 16b engage over the slightly protruding flange strip The wall portions or pieces 15 serve to support shaft 12a which in turn carries the reverse thread rollers 12 with interposed ball bearings 20. The reverse thread rollers 12 are designed as hollow cylinders and can be pushed onto the continuous shaft 12a. The reverse thread rollers are fixedly attached to the drive shaft 12a in an appropriate manner so that they rotate with the rotating shaft 12a. As shown, wall pieces 15 carry the ball bearings 20.

The intermediate bearing or supporting elements 16 and the wall pieces 15 are designed as right-hand and left-hand pieces and include side stops 21 located at their inner sides. The inner side stops 21 accommodate guide rods 22 along which the carriers 23 of the thread guide element 9 slide back and forth within the winding zone.

The runner 25 is located on a pin 24 and slides in the reverse thread grooves 12b of the reverse thread roller 12. The thread guide element 9 is supported to rotate around the support pin 24. A slide shoe 26 is disposed on another pin 33 that is attached to the thread guide element 9. The slide shoe 26 slides back and forth within the guide rail 27 which is pivotally supported on support 27a disposed within the aperture 28 that is located in the bearing block 17. The bearing block 17 is arranged to freely surround the guide 18 of the groove profile casing 8.

The movable bearing or supporting elements 15, 16 and 17 are advantageously secured along the seating surface or prismatic guide 18 and profile strip 19 by a screw attachment. Screws 29 as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b are used to secure the bearing or supporting elements 15, 16 and 17 at any desired predetermined point along the housing length of the casing 8. The bearing or supporting elements 15, 16 and 17 have their abutting surfaces drawn up tightly against the prismatic guide or seating surface 18 thereby rigidly connecting the longitudinal legs of the trough-shaped housing thereby providing appropriate reinforcement.

The casing 8 may be covered by cover portions 30 which are attached by a snap closure. The cover portions 30 include an angled portion 30a along one side which engages in the-groove 8a of the casing 8. Spring portions 30b of the cover portions 30 engage the recess 160 in each of the intermediate supporting elements 16 along the other longitudinal side of the casing 8. Flat support surfaces 8b extend at an angle with respect to each other along the outer circumference of the casing 8. Support blocks 31 have seating surfaces (not numbered) which are contiguous to the support surfaces 8b for supporting the casing 8 in a fixed position.

A general view of several changeover devices are shown housed in a common casing in FIG. 6. This embodiment includes changeover devices wherein the reverse thread rollers 12 are of different lengths. The trough-shaped housing is continuous in this particular embodiment with a winding zone being defined between wall portions or pieces 15. Each changeover device is defined at its ends by intermediate bearing or supporting elements 16. The reverse thread rollers 12 are hollow and fixedly connected to the common shaft 12a for rotation therewith. The common shaft 12a is supported on the wall pieces 15 by means of roller bearings 20. In special cases, it is possible to place roller bearings at the intermediate bearing pieces 16.

If the shaft 12a is extremely long, it may be subdivided. The ends of the shaft 12a may be fixedly coupled together by a coupling 32 as shown in FIG. 6. The coupling 32 constitutes a coupling mechanism disposed within the housing.

The intermediate supporting elements 16 and the bearing blocks 17 may be secured to the housing of the casing 8 at any point along the length thereof. The wall portions or pieces 15 and the intermediate supporting elements 16 define spacers and reinforcing elements for the opposing legs or sides of the trough-shaped housing.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION There are several advantages associated with the invention as described herein. The supporting elements used to support the reverse thread roller within the casing 8 may be arranged at any desired appropriate spacing without the length of the casing housing being limited. That is, the trough-shaped housing may be provided in a continuous manner extending from one machine to another over the entire block thereof to receive a plurality of threads being wound onto a spool. Thus, there is a freedom in the arrangement of the texturizing machines or the like with respect to each other.

The housing associated with the thread winding apparatus need not be exchanged but merely fitted with a relatively small number of standardized elements to adapt the winding device to any desired width corresponding to the length of the machines from which thread is being supplied. The casing units for the winding mechanism may be delivered in a predetermined or preset manner. At the same time, any alteration may be made to the casing atanyzparticular time during the winding operation or whenever a different machine arrangement juxtaposed thereto is desired. The requirement of acceleration of operational speed is more efficiently and rapidly satisfied by the design of the apparatus made in accordance with the invention.

Finally, the trough-shaped profile of the housing enables close juxtaposition of the machines from which thread is being supplied and thus a small" unit width. This characteristic of the casing results in a shorter length for the drive shaft used to operate the reverse thread rollers disposed therein.

While thecasing for a winding apparatus has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is: I

1. An apparatus for winding thread onto a spool comprising: i

a. a casing,

b. a reverse thread roller rotatably mounted in the casing,

c. a thread guide mechanism including a thread guide element mounted for back and forth movement by means of the reverse thread roller,

d. said casing including a trough-shaped housing with a contoured inner surface and having an opening facing upwardly along the top and between longitudinal sides thereof, 1

e. said casing including detachably connected means for reinforcing the housing along the longitudinal edges of the opening,

f. said reinforcing means having an outer bearing surface configuration corresponding to the contoured inner surface of the housing,

g. said outer bearing surface being disposed contiguous to the inner surface of the housing,

h. said reinforcing means including wall pieces being movably disposed between said longitudinal sides and defining a winding zone therebetween.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said trough-shaped housing has a length extending at least over a plurality of reverse thread rollers disposed end to end and having a common longitudinal axis.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said reverse thread rollers are fixedly mounted on a shaft means rotatably disposed in said casing along said common longitudinal axis,

said shaft means including a plurality of shaft sections fixedly joined to each other by a coupling mechanism disposed within said housing.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing means includes elements that bridge across the opening of the housing and the outer bearing surface configuration includes contact surfaces which are contiguous to opposite sides of said housing.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said trough-shaped housing has an outer surface including two support surfaces disposed at an angle with respect to each other.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the housing includes a groove on the outer surface along a rear longitudinal edge and a recess is disposed along a front longitudinal edge of the casing,

said trough-shaped housing includes a snap fitting portion having an angled portion gripping the housing at said groove and a spring portion engaging said recess.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said trough-shaped casing housing is composed of extruded material.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said material is aluminum.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a continuous shaft means extends from one end of the housing to the other between bearings disposed within wall pieces disposed at the ends of the easing.

10. An apparatus for winding thread onto a spool comprising:

a. a casing,

b. a reverse thread roller rotatably mounted in the casing, and

c. a thread guide mechanism including a thread guide element mounted for back and forth movement by means of the reverse thread roller,

d. said casing including a trough-shaped housing having an opening extending between longitudinal sides thereof,

e. said casing including detachably connected support means which include wall pieces movably disposed between said longitudinal sides,

f. said wall pieces define a winding zone therebetween,

g. said detachably mounted support means further includes supporting elements disposed within said housing intermediate the ends of the housing for reinforcing the housing along the longitudinal edges of the opening.

11. An apparatus for winding thread onto a spool comprising:

a. a casing,

b. a reverse thread roller rotatably mounted in the casing, and

c. a thread guide mechanism including a thread guide element mounted for back and forth movement by means of the reverse thread roller,

d. said casing including a trough-shaped housing having an opening extending between longitudinal sides thereof,

e. said casing including detachable connected support means including wall pieces which define a winding zone therebetween and are movably disposed between said longitudinal sides,

f. said trough shaped housing including at least one longitudinally extending seating surface having a predetermined contour and being disposed along one side of the opening and a longitudinally extending flange strip having a predetermined contour and being disposed along the other side of the opening, g. said seating surface and flange strip serving to hold said detachably disposed support means in place. 12. An apparatus for winding thread onto a spool comprising:

a. a casing,

b. a reverse thread roller rotatably mounted in the casing, and

c. a thread guide mechanism including a thread guide element mounted for back and forth movement by means of the reverse thread roller,

d. said casing including a trough-shaped housing having an opening extending between longitudinal sides thereof,

e. said casing including detachably connected means for reinforcing the housing along the longitudinal edges of the opening including pieces movably disposed between said longitudinal sides and defining a winding zone therebetween,

f. said detachably mounted means including elements disposed within said housing intermediate the wall pieces.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said support means includes support members having an abutting surface adapted to correspondingly fit the contour of said seating surfacev 14. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said support means includes support members having a gripping section adapted to fit the contour of said flange strip.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said support means includes an abutting surface adapted to correspondingly fit the contour of said seating surface and a gripping section adapted to fit over the contour of said flange strip,

said support means including fastening means for pulling the abutment surface tightly against said seating surface to cause the gripping section to apply a force on said flange strip in a direction toward said seating surface.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said support means includes a bearing block contiguous to one side of the housing and having a freely disposed end extending in a direction away from the seating surface and including a collar configuration at said freely disposed end for pivotally supporting a guide rail which guides the thread guide mechanism. 

1. An apparatus for winding thread onto a spool comprising: a. a casing, b. a reverse thread roller rotatably mounted in the casing, c. a thread guide mechanism including a thread guide element mounted for back and forth movement by means of the reverse thread roller, d. said casing including a trough-shaped housing with a contoured inner surface and having an opening facing upwardly along the top and between longitudinal sides thereof, e. said casing including detachably connected means for reinforcing the housing along the longitudinal edges of the opening, f. said reinforcing means having an outer bearing surface configuration corresponding to the contoured inner surface of the housing, g. said outer bearing surface being disposed contiguous to the inner surface of the housing, h. said reinforcing means including wall pieces being movably disposed between said longitudinal sides and defining a winding zone therebetween.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said trough-shaped housing has a length extending at least over a plurality of reverse thread rollers disposed end to end and having a common longitudinal axis.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said reverse thread rollers are fixedly mounted on a shaft means rotatably disposed in said casing along said common longitudinal axis, said shaft means including a plurality of shaft sections fixedly joined to each other by a coupling mechanism disposed within said housing.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing means includes elements that bridge across the opening of the housing and the outer bearing surface configuration includes contact surfaces which are contiguous to opposite sides of said housing.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said trough-shaped housing has an outer surface including two support surfaces disposed at an angle with respect to each other.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the housing includes a groove on the outer surface along a rear longitudinal edge and a recess is disposed along a front longitudinal edge of the casing, said trough-shaped housing includes a snap fitting portion having an angled portion gripping the housing at said groove and a spring portion engaging said recess.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said trough-shaped casing housing is composed of extruded material.
 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said material is aluminum.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a continuous shaft means extends from one end of the housing to the other between bearings disposed within wall pieces disposed at the ends of the casing.
 10. An apparatus for winding thread onto a spool comprising: a. a casing, b. a reverse thread roller rotatably mounted in the casing, and c. a thread guide mechanism including a thread guide element mounted for back and forth movement by means of the reverse thread roller, d. said casing including a trough-shaped housing having an opening extending between longitudinal sides thereof, e. said casing including detachably connected support means which include wall pieces movably disposed between said longitudinal sides, f. said wall pieces define a winding zone therebetween, g. said detachably mounted support means further includes supporting elements disposed within said housing intermediate the ends of the housing for reinforcing the housing along the longitudinal edges of the opening.
 11. An apparatus for winding thread onto a spool comprising: a. a casing, b. a reverse thread roller rotatably mounted in the casing, and c. a thread guide mechanism including a thread guide element mounted for back and forth movement by means of the reverse thread roller, d. said casing including a trough-shaped housing having an opening extending between longitudinal sides thereof, e. said casing including detachable connected support means including wall pieces which define a winding zone therebetween and are movably disposed between said longitudinal sides, f. said trough shaped housing including at least one longitudinally extending seating surface having a predetermined contour and being disposed along one side of the opening and a longitudinally extending flange strip having a predetermined contour and being disposed along the other side of the opening, g. said seating surface and flange strip serving to hold said detachably disposed support means in place.
 12. An apparatus for winding thread onto a spool comprising: a. a casing, b. a reverse thread roller rotatably mounted in the casing, and c. a thread guide mechanism including a thread guide element mounted for back and forth movement by means of the reverse thread roller, d. said casing including a trough-shaped housing having an opening extending between longitudinal sides thereof, e. said casing including detachably connected means for reinforcing the housing along the longitudinal edges of the opening including pieces movably disposed between said longitudinal sides and defining a winding zone therebetweEn, f. said detachably mounted means including elements disposed within said housing intermediate the wall pieces.
 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said support means includes support members having an abutting surface adapted to correspondingly fit the contour of said seating surface.
 14. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said support means includes support members having a gripping section adapted to fit the contour of said flange strip.
 15. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said support means includes an abutting surface adapted to correspondingly fit the contour of said seating surface and a gripping section adapted to fit over the contour of said flange strip, said support means including fastening means for pulling the abutment surface tightly against said seating surface to cause the gripping section to apply a force on said flange strip in a direction toward said seating surface.
 16. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said support means includes a bearing block contiguous to one side of the housing and having a freely disposed end extending in a direction away from the seating surface and including a collar configuration at said freely disposed end for pivotally supporting a guide rail which guides the thread guide mechanism. 